Connector

Abstract

A retainer ( 30 ) including a pair of side plates ( 32 ) is mounted such that the retainer ( 30 ) crosses over a housing ( 10 ) along width direction and the side plates ( 32 ) bulge out along width direction from side surfaces of the housing ( 10 ). Protection walls ( 27, 28 ) are formed on the side surfaces of the housing ( 10 ) to project around movable ranges of the side plates ( 32 ) of the retainer ( 30 ). Thus, inadvertent movement of the retainer ( 30 ) due to the contact of an external matter with the side plates ( 32 ) can be prevented. The protection walls ( 27, 28 ) are formed to define jig insertion holes ( 29 ). Thus, the side plates ( 32 ) of the retainer ( 30 ) can be disengaged from a full locking position by inserting a jig (J) through the jig insertion holes ( 29 ).

1. A connector, comprising:
 a housing formed with at least one cavity for accommodating a terminal fitting, and 
 a retainer including a pair of side plates at opposite sides and mountable so that the retainer crosses over the housing along a width direction, the side plates bulging out along the width direction from side surfaces of the housing, wherein: 
 the retainer is movable in a moving direction intersecting an inserting direction of the terminal fitting from a first position where insertion and withdrawal of the terminal fitting into and from the cavity are permitted and a second position where the terminal fitting is retained by engagement with the retainer, and 
 protection walls are formed on the side surfaces of the housing to project at least partly around movable ranges of the side plates, wherein portions of the protection walls substantially opposed to a leading end of the retainer with respect to the moving direction are formed to define a jig insertion hole for receiving a jig to urge the side plates substantially opposite to the moving direction and to disengage the side plates of the retainer from the second position. 
 
   
   
     2. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the protection walls are arranged at the substantially opposite sides of the movable range of each side plate with respect to the moving direction of the side plate. 
   
   
     3. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein a guiding portion is provided on the protection walls for guiding the jig to a substantially proper position. 
   
   
     4. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein surfaces of the side plates are substantially in surface contact with the protection walls when the retainer is at the first position. 
   
   
     5. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is moved in the moving direction while the respective side plates are held substantially in sliding contact with guide ribs and sliding contacts of the protection walls. 
   
   
     6. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein a projecting height of the protection walls is about equal to a thickness of the side plates. 
   
   
     7. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein outer surfaces of the side plates and the protection walls are substantially flush with each other when the retainer is at the second position. 
   
   
     8. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein retainer holding portions bulge out substantially along the width direction from the side surfaces of the housing and holding recesses are formed in the outer side surfaces thereof, the holding recesses defining the movable ranges of the retainer. 
   
   
     9. The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has opposite front and rear ends, and the cavity extending between the ends, the protection walls including a front protection wall between the retainer and front end of the housing, a rear protection wall between the retainer and the rear end of the housing and a leading protection wall substantially opposed to the leading end of the retainer, the jig insertion hole being formed in the leading protection wall. 
   
   
     10. The connector of  claim 9 , wherein the jig insertion hole is aligned to receive a jig along a direction oblique to the inserting direction of the terminal fitting. 
   
   
     11. A connector, comprising:
 a housing with opposite front and rear ends and at least one cavity extending between the ends for accommodating a terminal fitting, the housing having a retainer insertion wall extending rearward from the front end and sidewalls extending angularly from the front wall and from the retainer insertion wall, an insertion hole extending into the retainer insertion wall and communicating with the cavity, portions of the housing adjacent the front end being configured for insertion into a receptacle of a mating housing; 
 a retainer having a bridge, at least one retaining projection extending from the bridge and being insertable into the insertion hole, side plates extending from the bridge and being slidable along the sidewalls of the housing in proximity to the rear end of the housing, the retainer being movable in a moving direction transverse to an inserting direction of the terminal fitting from a first position where insertion and withdrawal of the terminal fitting into and from the cavity are permitted and a second position where the terminal fitting is retained by the retaining projection; 
 protection walls projecting out from the side surfaces of the housing at least partly around movable ranges of the side plates and at locations reward of portions of the housing that are insertable into the receptacle of the mating housing, at least one of said protection walls being formed with a jig insertion hole for receiving a jig to urge the side plates substantially opposite to the moving direction for moving the retainer from the second position to the first position. 
 
   
   
     12. A connector, comprising:
 a first housing having a front end, external surfaces extending rearward from the front end and a receptacle extending into the front end, at least one first terminal disposed in the receptacle; 
 a second housing with opposite front and rear ends and at least one cavity extending between the ends for accommodating a second terminal fitting, the second housing having walls extending rearward from the front end, an insertion hole extending into one of said walls and communicating with the cavity, portions of the second housing adjacent the front end being configured for insertion into the receptacle; 
 a retainer having a retaining projection insertable into the insertion hole for retaining the second terminal fitting in the cavity, the retainer further having side plates slidably engaged on two of the walls of the second housing externally of the receptacle, the side plates having outer surfaces aligned substantially flush with the external surfaces of the first housing; 
 protection walls projecting out from the second housing and at least partly surrounding the side plates of the retainer, the protection walls having outer surfaces substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the side plates and the external surfaces of the first housing, the protection walls having at least one jig insertion hole for receiving a jig for urging said retainer into a position for permitting insertion and removal of the second terminal fitting into and from the cavity.